Researchers created a short 15-question quiz to help older adults check if they’re eating a brain-healthy diet called the MIND diet. The MIND diet combines ideas from Mediterranean and heart-healthy eating patterns and has been linked to lower Alzheimer’s disease risk. Scientists tested this quick quiz against a longer, more detailed food survey with 92 older adults and found the short version worked just as well. This means doctors and researchers can now use a faster, easier tool to see if people are eating foods that might protect their brains as they age.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether a quick 15-question quiz about eating habits is just as accurate as a longer, detailed food survey for measuring how well someone follows the MIND diet (a diet thought to help protect the brain).
  • Who participated: 92 older adults from an Alzheimer’s research center in Indiana. These were people of varying ages and health conditions, some with memory concerns and some without.
  • Key finding: The short quiz matched the longer survey very well (correlation of 0.71), meaning it accurately measured whether people were following the MIND diet. The quiz also correctly grouped people into categories of good, medium, and poor diet quality.
  • What it means for you: If your doctor wants to check whether you’re eating a brain-healthy diet, they can now use a quick 15-question quiz instead of a time-consuming detailed survey. This makes it easier to get feedback on your eating habits, though you should still talk to your doctor or dietitian about specific dietary changes.

The Research Details

Scientists compared two different ways of measuring diet quality in 92 older adults. The first method was a quick 15-question screener (the new tool) that asks about eating habits. The second was a much longer and more detailed food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) that asks about many more foods and eating patterns. Participants completed both tools, and researchers compared the results to see if they matched.

The researchers looked at how well the scores from both tools agreed with each other using statistical methods. They also checked whether the short quiz correctly grouped people into categories (like those eating the healthiest MIND diet versus those eating less healthy versions). Additionally, they examined whether the nutrients measured by the short quiz matched up with the detailed nutrient information from the longer survey.

About a year later, some participants completed the short quiz again so researchers could check if it gave consistent results over time.

The MIND diet has shown promise in research for potentially reducing Alzheimer’s disease risk, but it’s complicated to measure. A quick, accurate tool makes it practical for doctors to assess patients’ diets in busy medical offices and for researchers to study large groups of people. Without a validated short tool, many people wouldn’t get diet assessments because the longer survey takes too much time.

This study has several strengths: it compared the new tool directly to a well-established detailed survey, it included people with different health conditions, and it checked whether results stayed consistent over time. However, the sample size of 92 people is relatively modest, and all participants came from one research center in Indiana, so results might not apply equally to all older adults everywhere. The study also didn’t use biological markers (like blood tests) to confirm diet quality, which would have provided additional validation.

What the Results Show

The short 15-question MIND diet screener showed strong agreement with the detailed food survey. When researchers calculated correlation coefficients (a measure of how closely two things match), they found values of 0.71 to 0.70, which indicates strong agreement. This means if someone scored high on the short quiz, they also tended to score high on the detailed survey.

The screener successfully separated people into different diet quality groups. When researchers divided participants into three groups based on their screener scores (best diet, medium diet, and poorest diet), the detailed survey confirmed these groupings were accurate. People in the highest screener group actually did eat more of the brain-healthy foods measured by the detailed survey.

The short quiz accurately captured important nutrients associated with brain health, including omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins. The nutrient profiles from the detailed survey matched what the screener suggested about diet quality.

When researchers retested some participants about a year later, the screener gave consistent results, suggesting it’s reliable over time.

The screener worked equally well across different groups of participants, including those with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests the tool is useful for assessing diet quality regardless of someone’s current brain health status. The short quiz also appeared to be practical for use in medical settings, taking much less time than the detailed survey while maintaining accuracy.

Previous research has shown that the MIND diet may help protect brain health and reduce Alzheimer’s risk, but measuring adherence to this diet has been challenging. This study builds on that work by creating a practical tool that makes it easier to assess whether people are actually following the MIND diet. The strong correlation with the established detailed survey suggests this screener is a valid shortcut that maintains scientific accuracy.

The study included only 92 participants from one research center in Indiana, which is a relatively small and geographically limited sample. Results might differ in other regions or populations. The researchers didn’t use objective measures like blood tests or biomarkers to independently confirm diet quality—they only compared two questionnaire-based methods. The study also didn’t track whether following the MIND diet actually led to better brain health outcomes in these participants, only whether the screener accurately measured diet adherence.

The Bottom Line

If you’re an older adult concerned about brain health, ask your doctor about the MIND diet and whether a quick diet assessment might be helpful for you. The MIND diet emphasizes whole grains, leafy greens, other vegetables, nuts, berries, fish, beans, and olive oil while limiting red meat, butter, and processed foods. This evidence suggests a quick screening tool can help identify whether you’re following this pattern. However, any dietary changes should be discussed with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian, especially if you have existing health conditions or take medications.

This research is most relevant for older adults, particularly those concerned about cognitive health or with family history of Alzheimer’s disease. Healthcare providers and researchers studying brain health will find this tool useful. People in time-constrained medical settings will benefit from the quick assessment option. However, this study doesn’t prove the MIND diet prevents Alzheimer’s—it only validates a tool for measuring diet adherence. Anyone making major dietary changes should consult their doctor.

The MIND diet is meant to be a long-term eating pattern, not a quick fix. Research suggests potential brain health benefits develop over months and years of consistent eating habits, not days or weeks. You might notice improved energy and digestion within a few weeks, but cognitive benefits would take much longer to assess.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track weekly servings of MIND diet foods: leafy greens (goal: 6+ servings), berries (goal: 2+ servings), nuts (goal: 5+ servings), fish (goal: 1+ servings), and olive oil use. Also track weekly servings of foods to limit: red meat, butter, cheese, and processed foods.
  • Use the app to log one MIND diet food daily and one food to reduce. Start with adding one brain-healthy food (like a handful of almonds or a salad) rather than trying to overhaul your entire diet at once. The app can send reminders for weekly MIND diet foods.
  • Complete a brief diet quality check-in monthly using the 15-item screener format. Track trends in your MIND diet adherence score over 3-6 months. Share results with your healthcare provider during regular check-ups to discuss whether your eating pattern is supporting your health goals.

This research validates a tool for measuring diet quality, not the MIND diet itself for preventing Alzheimer’s disease. While the MIND diet shows promise in research for supporting brain health, no diet can guarantee prevention of cognitive decline or Alzheimer’s disease. This study does not establish that following the MIND diet will prevent dementia. Anyone considering significant dietary changes, especially those with existing health conditions, taking medications, or with concerns about cognitive health, should consult with their healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making changes. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical advice.